Big city Chambers opposing English-only driver’s tests

The Chambers of Commerce in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis have joined together to lobby against a bill that would require driver’s tests to be given only in English, a sign that business groups are upping the ante in the debate.

The four groups have jointly drafted a letter to lawmakers describing their reasons for opposing English-only tests. A statement released by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce says the bill would send “a message that our state is unwelcoming to foreign investment and business presence and to foreign individuals who choose to live in the state for reasons outside of economic development.”

“Japanese-owned Bridgestone’s lobbyist in Nashville is continuing to try and kill the bill despite the fact that Rep. Watson added language to his bill to exempt foreign executives here on temporary visas from having to comply.

“There is tremendous irony in the fact that a tire maker like Bridgestone is willing to risk Tennesseans’ safety on our roads for the sake of appeasing so-called immigrant’s rights groups.”

We believe that full and robust discussion of matters before our legislature is healthy and at the core of our values as a nation. And as is the case in most matters, reasonable people can disagree on the appropriate course of action.